In the past decade, rechargeable batteries attracted the attention from the researchers in search for renewable and sustainable energy sources. Up to date, lithium-ion battery is the most commercialized and has been supplying power to electronic devices and hybrid and electric vehicles. Lithium-ion battery, however, does not satisfy the expectations of ever-increasing energy and power density, which of their limits owes to its intercalation chemistry and the safety.1-2 Therefore, metal-air battery drew much attention as an alternative for its high energy density and a simple cell configuration.1 There are several different types of metal-air batteries that convey different viable reaction mechanisms depending on the anode metals; such as Li, Al, Ca, Cd, and Zn. Redox reactions take place in a metal-air cell regardless of the anode metal; oxidation reaction at the anode and reduction reaction at the air electrode. Between the two reaction, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the air electrode is the relatively the limiting factor within the overall cell reactions. The sluggish ORR kinetics greatly affects the performance of the battery system in terms of power output, efficiency, and durability. Therefore, researchers have put tremendous efforts in developing highly efficient metal air batteries and fuel cells, especially for high capacity applications such as electric vehicles. Currently, the catalyst with platinum nanoparticles supported on carbon material (Pt-C) is considered to exhibit the best ORR activities. Despite of the admirable electrocatalytic performance, Pt-C suffers from its lack of practicality in commercialization due to their prohibitively high cost and scarcity as of being a precious metal. Thus, there is increasing demand for replacing Pt with more abundant metals due economic feasibility and sustainability of this noble metal.3-5 Two different attitudes are taken for solution. The first approach is by optimizing the platinum loading in the formulation, or the alternatively the platinum can be replaced with non-precious materials. The purpose of this work is to discover and synthesize alternative catalysts for metal-air battery applications through optimized method without addition of precious metals. Different non-precious metals are investigated as the replacement of the precious metal including transition metal alloys, transition metal or mixed metal oxides, and chalcogenides. These types of metals, alone, still exhibits unsatisfying, yet worse, kinetics in comparison to the precious metals. Nitrogen-doped carbon material is a recently well studied carbon based material that exhibits great potential towards the cathodic reaction.6 Nitrogen-doped carbon materials are found to exhibit higher catalytic activity compared to the mentioned types of metals for its improved conductivity. Benefits of the carbon based materials are in its abundance and minimal environmental footprints. However, the degradation of these materials has demonstrated loss of catalytic activity through destruction of active sites containing the transition metal centre, ultimately causing infeasible stability. To compensate for these drawbacks and other limits of the nitrogen-doped carbon based catalysts, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNT) are also investigated in the series of study. The first investigation focuses on a development of a simple method to thermally synthesize a non-precious metal based nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) electrocatalyst using exfoliated graphene (Ex-G) and urea with varying amounts of iron (Fe) precursor. The morphology and structural features of the synthesized electrocatalyst (Fe-NG) were characterized by SEM and TEM, revealing the existence of graphitic nanoshells that potentially contribute to the ORR activity by providing a higher degree of edge plane exposure. The surface elemental composition of the catalyst was analyzed through XPS, which showed high content of a total N species (~8 at.%) indicative of the effective N-doping, present mostly in the form of pyridinic nitrogen groups. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of the catalyst was evaluated by rotating disk electrode voltammetry in alkaline electrolyte and in a zinc-air battery cell. Fe-NG demonstrated high onset and half-wave potentials of -0.023 V (vs. SCE) and -0.110 V (vs. SCE), respectively. This excellent ORR activity is translated into practical zinc-air battery performance capabilities approaching that of commercial platinum based catalyst. Another approach was made in the carbon materials to further improve the cost of the electrode. Popular carbon allotropes, CNT and graphene, are combined as a composite (GC) and heteroatoms, nitrogen and sulfur, are introduced in order to improve the charge distribution of the graphitic network. Dopants were doped through two step processes; nitrogen dopant was introduced into the graphitic framework followed by the sulfur dopant. The coexistence of the two heteroatoms as dopants demonstrated outstanding ORR performance to those of reported as metal free catalysts. Furthermore, effects of temperature were investigated through comparing ORR performances of the catalysts synthesized in two different temperatures (500 ??? and 900 ???) during the N-doping process (consistent temperature was used for S-doping). Through XPS analysis of the surface chemistry of catalysts produced with high temperature during the N-doping step showed absence of N-species after the subsequent S-doping process (GC-NHS). Thus, the synergetic effects of the two heteroatoms were not revealed during the half-cell testing. Meanwhile, the two heteroatoms were verified in the catalyst synthesized though using low temperature during the N-doping process followed by the S-doping step (GC-NLS). Consequently, ORR activity of the resulting material demonstrated promising onset and half-wave potentials of -0.117 V (vs. SCE) and -0.193 V (vs. SCE). In combination of these investigations, this document introduces thorough study of novel materials and their performance in its application as ORR catalyst in metal air batteries. Moreover, this report provides detailed fundamental insights of carbon allotropes, and their properties as potential elecrocatalysts and essential concepts in electrochemistry that lies behind zinc-air batteries. The outstanding performances of carbon based electrocatalyst are reviewed and used as the guides for further direction in the development of metal-air batteries as a promising sustainable energy resource in the future.

Starting with tensor calculus and the variational form of the Hamiltonian functional, a generalized theory is formulated for doubly curved thin shells. The formulation avoids geometric approximations commonly adopted in other formulations. The theory is then specialized for cylindrical and toroidal shells as special cases, both of interest in the modeling of straight and elbow segments of pipeline systems. Since the treatment avoids geometric approximations, the cylindrical shell theory is believed to be more accurate than others reported in the literature. By adopting a set of consistent geometric approximations, the present theory is shown to revert to the well known Flugge shell theory. Another set of consistent geometric approximations is shown to lead to the Donnell-Mushtari-Vlasov (DMV) theory. A general closed form solution of the theory is developed for cylinders under general harmonic loads. The solution is then used to formulate a family of exact shape functions which are subsequently used to formulate a super-convergent finite element. The formulation efficiently and accurately captures ovalization, warping, radial expansion, and other shell behavioural modes under general static or harmonic forces either in-phase or out-of-phase. Comparisons with shell solutions available in Abaqus demonstrate the validity of the formulation and the accuracy of its predictions. The generalized thin shell theory is then specialized for toroidal shells. Consistent sets of approximations lead to three simplified theories for toroidal shells. The first set of approximations has lead to a theory comparable to that of Sanders while the second set of approximation has lead to a theory nearly identical to the DMV theory for toroidal shells. A closed form solution is then obtained for the governing equation. Exact shape functions are then developed and subsequently used to formulate a finite element. Comparisons with Abaqus solutions show the validity of the formulation for short elbow segments under a variety of loading conditions. Because of their efficiency, the finite elements developed are particularly suited for the analysis of long pipeline systems.

Doppelt gekrümmte Schalen und Gitterschalen sind Tragsysteme, die, obwohl in Ihrer Wirkungsweise grundsätzlich verschieden, besonders für den Einsatz von Textilbeton geeignet sind. Aufgrund ihrer doppelten Krümmung weisen derartige Tragsysteme zahlreiche Besonderheiten hinsichtlich Formfindung, Lastabtrag und Herstellung auf. Anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels von monolithischen Schirmschalen und Konstruktionsstudien zu Gitterschalen werden die Strukturkonzepte und ihre Auswirkungen auf das Tragverhalten, das Bewehrungskonzept und die Auswirkungen auf die Herstellung sowie die Bauteilfügung erläutert. / Structural systems based on double curved monolithic shells or gridshells are both characterised by their good load bearing behaviour depending on the chosen geometry. Although both systems are different regarding their functionality they are suitable applications for TRC while taking advantage of the main constructive and design characteristics of the material. In describing an execution example of an umbrella-shaped shell-structure and design studies on gridshells the relation between structural concept and load bearing behaviour and the relation between the reinforcement concept and production as well as joining are discussed.

With the advent of power electronics, inverter-driven induction motor are finding increased use in industries because of applications that demand variable speed operations and because of the potential savings in energy usage. However, these drives sometimes produce unacceptably high levels in vibration and acoustic noise. A literature survey has revealed that while there has been intensive research on the design of inverters to minimize acoustic noise radiation from these drives, the vibro-acoustic behaviour of an induction motor structure has received relatively little attention. The primary objective of this research project, therefore, is to develop a general strategy/algorithm for estimating the acoustic noise radiated from inverter-driven induction motors. By using a three-phase, 2.2 kW induction motor, the vibration modes due to various structural components (such as the rotor, the stator/casing, the endshields and the base plate) of the motor structure were analysed by experimental modal testing. Results indicate that the vibration modes due to the rotor are only important at low frequencies. It has been found that the power injection method gives more accurate measurement of the damping of a motor structure than the modal testing and the time decay methods. If a point force excitation is used, then it is more accurate to measure the sound radiation efficiency than the power conversion efficiency for motor structures. The effect of three different inverter designs (an ideal ???almost sinusoidal??? controller and two commercially available PWM inverters) on the radiated acoustic power were assessed for both no-load and load conditions using sound intensity measurements conducted in an anechoic room. The results indicate that although the sound power level due to aerodynamic and mechanical noise increases at a rate of 12 dB per doubling of the motor speed, the electromagnetic noise dominates at low motor speeds and is still a significant noise source even at high motor speeds. For inverters with low switching frequencies, the radiated sound power level is almost 15 dB higher than the ideal case at low speeds and is relatively insensitive to the motor speed. For inverters that implement the random modulation technique, the change in the total sound power level with the level of the random modulation is very small but the tonal nature of the noise is greatly reduced. The vibration behaviour of a motor structure was modeled using the finite element method (FEM) and validated using the experimental modal testing results. It has been found that it is essential to model the laminated stator as an orthotropic structure. While the details of other structural components (such as the endshields, the teeth in the stator and the windings) are not so important, it is essential that they are incorporated into the structural model as simplified structures to account for their mass, stiffness and boundary conditions imposed on the motor structure. Based on this structural model, the radiated acoustic power for various operating conditions has been predicated using the boundary element (BEM) and the electromagnetic force calculated from an electromagnetic finite element model. The predicted results agree reasonably well with experimental measurements. Despite the success of the FEM/BEM approaches, they can be prohibitively expensive (in terms of computer resources required) to apply to large motors and high frequencies. Thus the feasibility of using a statistical method, namely, the statistical energy analysis (SEA), to estimate the radiated acoustic sound power from an inverter-driven induction motor has been examined. In order to carry out this analysis, analytical expressions for calculating the natural frequencies and radiation efficiency of finite length circular cylindrical shells (which are simplified models of the stator and casing of a motor structure) were firstly derived. The internal loss factors and coupling loss factors of the motor structure were determined experimentally using the power injection method. Then by introducing an equivalent surface mobility of circular cylindrical shells for the electromagnetic force, the vibration response and the acoustic noise radiated from each part of the motor structure were estimated. Results indicate that SEA method is potentially an efficient and effective tool in estimating the noise radiated from inverter-driven induction motors.

Ce travail tente de développer des outils numériques efficaces pour une approche plus rationnelle et moins empirique du dimensionnement à la ruine des ouvrages de génie civil. Contrairement aux approches traditionnelles reposant sur une combinaison de calculs élastiques, l'adoption de coefficients de sécurité et une vérification locale des sections critiques, la théorie du calcul à la rupture nous semble être un outil prometteur pour une évaluation plus rigoureuse de la sécurité des ouvrages. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons de mettre en œuvre numériquement les approches statique par l'intérieur et cinématique par l'extérieur du calcul à la rupture à l'aide d'éléments finis dédiés pour des structures de plaque en flexion et de coque en interaction membrane-flexion. Le problème d'optimisation correspondant est ensuite résolu à l'aide du développement, relativement récents, de solveurs de programmation conique particulièrement efficaces. Les outils développés sont également étendus au contexte de l'homogénéisation périodique en calcul à la rupture, qui constitue un moyen performant de traiter le cas des structures présentant une forte hétérogénéité de matériaux. Des procédures numériques sont spécifiquement développées afin de déterminer puis d'utiliser dans un calcul de structure des critères de résistance homogènes équivalents. Enfin, les potentialités de l'approche par le calcul à la rupture sont illustrées sur deux exemples complexes d'ingénierie : l'étude de la stabilité au feu de panneaux en béton armé de grande hauteur ainsi que le calcul de la marquise de la gare d'Austerlitz / This work aims at developping efficient numerical tools for a more rational and less empirical assessment of civil engineering structures yield design. As opposed to traditionnal methodologies relying on combinations of elastic computations, safety coefficients and local checking of critical members, the yield design theory seems to be a very promising tool for a more rigourous evaluation of structural safety. Lower bound static and upper bound kinematic approaches of the yield design theory are performed numerically using dedicated finite elements for plates in bending and shells in membrane-bending interaction. Corresponding optimization problems are then solved using very efficient conic programming solvers. The proposed tools are also extended to the framework of periodic homogenization in yield design, which enables to tackle the case of strong material heterogeneities. Numerical procedures are specifically tailored to compute equivalent homogeneous strength criteria and to use them, in a second step, in a computation at the structural level. Finally, the potentialities of the yield design approach are illustrated on two complex engineering problems : the stability assessment of high-rise reinforced concrete panels in fire conditions and the computation of the Paris-Austerlitz railway station canopy

Sabe-se que materiais compostos laminados são, hoje em dia, geralmente usados nas indústrias aeronáutica, aeroespacial, naval e outras, principalmente por causa de suas atrativas propriedades se comparadas aos materiais isotrópicos, como alta rigidez/peso, alta resistência, alto amortecimento e boas propriedades relacionadas ao isolamento térmico e acústico, entre outras. Porém, o comportamento de estruturas feitas de materiais compostos pode ser aperfeiçoado através da utilização de materiais inteligentes. Dentre os diferentes tipos comercialmente disponíveis de materiais inteligentes, os materiais piezelétricos são amplamente usados como sensores e atuadores para o monitoramento e controle de estruturas. O efeito piezelétrico direto define que uma deformação mecânica aplicada ao material é convertida em uma carga elétrica. Por outro lado, o efeito piezelétrico inverso define que um potencial elétrico aplicado ao material é convertido em deformação mecânica. Estes efeitos governam a interação eletromecânica nos materiais piezelétricos. O Método dos Elementos Finitos, uma ferramenta amplamente reconhecida e poderosa para a análise de estruturas complexas, é capaz de realizar a integração dos componentes inteligentes e das partes estruturais clássicas. Sendo assim, o comportamento estático e dinâmico, linear e geometricamente não-linear, de estruturas compostas laminadas delgadas com lâminas piezelétricas incorporadas é analisado neste trabalho usando o Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF). Elementos triangulares, chamados GPL-T9, com três nós e seis graus de liberdade por nó (três componentes de deslocamento e três de rotação) e um grau de liberdade por camada piezelétrica (potencial elétrico) são usados. Para a análise estática não-linear as equações de equilíbrio são solucionadas usando o Método do Controle de Deslocamentos Generalizados (MCDG) enquanto a solução dinâmica é obtida usando o Método de Newmark com Formulação Lagrangeana Atualizada (FLA). O sistema de equações é resolvido usando o Método dos Gradientes Conjugados (MGC) e nos casos não-lineares um esquema iterativo-incremental é empregado. Diversos exemplos numéricos são apresentados e comparados com resultados obtidos por outros autores com diferentes tipos de elementos e diferentes formulações. A concordância entre estes resultados demonstra a validade e a eficácia dos modelos desenvolvidos. / It is well known that laminate composite materials are nowadays commonly used in the aeronautical, aerospace, naval and other industries mainly because their attractive properties as compared to isotropic materials, such as higher stiffness/weight, higher strength, higher damping and good properties related to thermal or acoustic isolation, among others. However, the behavior of structures made of composite materials can be improved using smart materials. Among several kinds of commercially available smart materials, the piezoelectric materials are widely used as sensors and actuators for the monitoring and control of structures. The direct piezoelectric effect states that a mechanical strain applied to the material is converted to an electric charge. On the other hand, the converse piezoelectric effect states that an electric potential applied to the material is converted to mechanical strain. These effects govern the electromechanical interaction in piezoelectric materials. The finite element method, a widely accepted and powerful tool for analyzing complex structures, is capable of dealing with the integration of smart components and classic structural parts. So, linear and geometrically nonlinear static and dynamic behavior of thin laminate composite structures embedded with piezoelectric layers are analyzed in this work using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Triangular elements, called GPL-T9, with three nodes and six degrees of freedom per node (three displacement and three rotation components) and one degree of freedom per piezoelectric layer (electrical potential) are used. For static analysis the nonlinear equilibrium equations are solved using the Generalized Displacement Control Method (GDCM) while the dynamic solution is performed using the classical Newmark Method with an Updated Lagrangean Formulation (ULF). The system of equations is solved using the Gradient Cojugate Method (GCM) and in nonlinear cases an iterative-incremental scheme is employed. Several numerical examples are presented and compared with results obtained by other authors with different kind of elements and different schemes. The agreement among these results demonstrates the validity and effectiveness of the developed models.

[pt] Cascas cilíndricas são usadas em muitas aplicações de engenharia e, devido a sua forma e capacidade de transporte de carga, são bastante usadas na indústria aeroespacial e em estruturas civis. Elas minimizam a quantidade de material do qual são fabricadas, tornando-se assim estruturas muito leves e esbeltas. Em décadas recentes tem se procurado criar novos materiais que conjuguem múltiplas propriedades como maior resistência, melhor proteção térmica, proteção contra corrosão e adequado nível de amortecimento, dentre outras. Uma classe de materiais que podem atender simultaneamente várias destas exigências é o chamado material com gradação funcional, onde as propriedades do material variam de forma contínua em uma ou mais direções. Materiais com gradação funcional são particularmente indicados para a construção de cascas. Como a maioria destas estruturas estão sujeitas a cargas dinâmicas, torna-se importante o estudo do comportamento dinâmico de cascas fabricadas com materiais com gradação funcional. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar as vibrações não lineares de cascas cilíndricas esbeltas com gradação funcional. Para isto utiliza-se a teoria não linear de cascas de Sanders, considerada uma das teorias mais precisas para a análise de cascas esbeltas. Inicialmente, derivam-se as equações de movimento considerando um estado de tensões iniciais. Usando as equações linearizadas, obtêm-se às frequências naturais e as cargas críticas, sendo estes resultados comparados favoravelmente com resultados encontrados na literatura para materiais homogêneos e com gradação funcional. A seguir, usando uma expansão modal que atende as condições de contorno e continuidade, além de expressar os acoplamentos modais característicos de cascas cilíndricas no regime não linear, as equações de movimento são discretizadas usando-se o método de Galerkin. As equações algébricas resultantes são resolvidas pelo método de Newton-Raphson, sendo assim obtida a relação não linear frequência-amplitude. Finalmente, realiza-se uma análise paramétrica para estudar a influência da geometria da casca, da gradação do material funcional e dos modos de vibração no grau e tipo de não linearidade da casca cilíndrica, sendo esta a principal contribuição deste trabalho de pesquisa. / [en] Cylindrical shells are used in many engineering applications and, due to its shape and load carrying capacity, are frequently used in aerospace and civil structures. They minimize the amount of material from which they are manufactured, thus making it a very lightweight and slender structure. In recent decades, there has been a search for new materials that combine multiple properties such as increased strength, better thermal protection, corrosion protection and appropriate damping level, among others. A material that can meet several of these requirements simultaneously is the so called functionally graded material, where the material properties vary continuously in one or more directions. Functionally graded materials are particularly suitable for the construction of shells. As most of these structures are subjected to dynamic loads, it is important to study the dynamic behavior of shells made of functionally graded materials. The objective of this work is to study the nonlinear vibrations of slender functionally graded cylindrical shells. For this, the Sanders non-linear shell theory, which is considered one of the most precise theories for the analysis of slender shells, is adopted. Initially, the equations of motion are derived considering an initial stress state. Using the linearized equations of motion, the natural frequencies and critical loads are obtained. These results compare favorably with results reported in the literature for homogeneous and functionally graded shells. Then, using a modal expansion that satisfies the boundary and continuity conditions and expresses the modal couplings characteristic of cylindrical shells in the nonlinear regime, the equations of motion are discretized using the Galerkin method. The resulting algebraic equations are solved by the Newton-Raphson method, thus obtaining the nonlinear frequency-amplitude relation. Finally, a parametric analysis is conducted to study the influence of the geometry of the shell, the gradient of the functional material and vibration modes on the degree and type of nonlinearity of the cylindrical shell, which is the main contribution of this research work.

Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Lúcia Helena Gomes Coelho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, 2016. / Considerando a situação atual dos recursos hídricos, cuja qualidade vem sendo comprometida pela poluição causada, principalmente, pelo descarte inadequado de efluentes não tratados ou ineficientemente tratados, evidencia-se a necessidade de se criar técnicas e processos que permitam tratar o efluente de modo eficiente, de forma mais econômica e sustentável, cujos resíduos finais sejam de mais fácil disposição ou reutilização, visando a minimização dos impactos ambientais do despejo de efluentes e dos processos de tratamento de águas em si. O presente trabalho avaliou o potencial da utilização de conchas de moluscos (Venerupis pulastra) como substrato natural na remoção de fósforo inorgânico dissolvido (ortofosfato) em meio aquoso com vistas ao desenvolvimento de tecnologia de tratamento terciário de efluentes de baixo custo e baixo impacto ambiental. Foram realizados ensaios em batelada que consistiram da adição de 0,5 g a 2,0 g do substrato natural (previamente preparado) em 15 mL de solução de concentração conhecida de fósforo (0,5 mg L-1) sob agitação em mesa agitadora por períodos de tempo estabelecidos. Foi avaliada a influência dos parâmetros: tempo de detenção hidráulica substrato/solução, pH da solução, quantidade de substrato, granulometria do substrato e velocidade de rotação da mesa agitadora orbital na eficiência de remoção de ortofosfato em amostras sintéticas de concentração conhecida. Todos os parâmetros foram variados no sistema utilizando abordagem univariada e multivariada. Para os testes com abordagem univariada, os resultados de eficiência de remoção de fósforo variaram de 14% a 68%, evidenciando o potencial de adsorção do substrato e a importância dos parâmetros estudados no desempenho do processo. Com a análise destes dados, foi possível fazer um melhor delineamento dos parâmetros e níveis dos parâmetros a serem utilizados nas análises com abordagem multivariada. Os resultados de eficiência de remoção para as análises com abordagem multivariada alcançaram valores entre 50% e 98%, apontando que as condições utilizadas nesta etapa do experimento (parâmetros e níveis) mostraram-se muito mais favoráveis ao processo de adsorção de fósforo pelo substrato. Os testes realizados com materiais de diferentes conchas (lotes e espécies diferentes) apontaram resultados semelhantes nas três amostras estudadas, mantendo eficiência acima de 96%. Por fim, foram realizados ensaios aplicando a técnica em duas diferentes amostras de efluentes provenientes de tratamento secundário (que possui como objetivo a remoção de matéria orgânica do efluente), sendo eles: biorreator de membranas submersas (BRM), com concentração inicial de fósforo (Ci) de 3,9 mg L-1) e lagoas de estabilização (Ci = 0,5 mg L-1). Obteve-se 91% de eficiência de remoção de fósforo para a amostra do BRM e 86% de eficiência de remoção para a amostra de lagoas de estabilização. Verificou-se eficiência elevada para remoção de fósforo nestas amostras, entretanto, com resultados abaixo dos encontrados em amostras sintéticas na mesma condição, apontando possíveis interferências das substâncias existentes na matriz do efluente no processo de adsorção. / Considering the current situation of water resources, whose quality has been compromised by pollution caused mainly by improper disposal of untreated effluents or ineffectively treated, highlights the need to create techniques and processes able to treat effluent, in an efficiently, economically and sustainably way, and its final waste able to be easier disposal or reuse, in order to minimize the environmental impact of the discharge of effluents and water treatment process itself. This present research proposes to evaluate the potential of shellfish shell (Venerupis pulastra) as a natural substrate in the removal of inorganic phosphorus (orthophosphate) from water, aiming the development of a low-cost and environmentally friendly tertiary wastewater treatment technology. The first step was the acquisition and preparation of the shellfish shell substrate. After that, laboratory tests were conducted batchwise, using 15ml of aqueous solutions containing 0.5mg/L of phosphorus with addition of the natural substrate (varying mass from 0.5g to 2g) under shaken for a set time. It was evaluated the influence of the parameters: contact time with the substrate and the solution, pH of the solution, amount of substrate mass, the substrate particle size and the rotational speed of the orbital shaker in the efficiency of orthophosphate removal from the synthetic sample of known concentration. All parameters were varied in the system using univariate and multivariate (design of experiments - DOE) approach. For the univariate approach tests, the phosphorus removal efficiency results ranged from 14% to 68%, showing the adsorption of the substrate potential and the importance of the parameters studied on the process performance. The results provided by univariate approach were used to organize a more specific delineation of the parameters and levels to be used in the analysis with multivariate approach. The removal efficiency results for analysis varying parameters with multivariate approach reached values between 50% and 98%, showing that the conditions used in the design of experiment (parameters and levels) proved to be more favorable to the phosphorus adsorption process. The tests with different materials (different lots and species of shellfish) showed similar results in the three samples studied, maintaining the removal efficiency of orthophosphate above 96%. Finally it was held experiments with two samples of effluents from different secondary treatment systems. The efficiency results for removal were 91% for the effluent from the bioreactor of submerged membranes (BRM) and 86% for effluent from secondary treatment from stabilization lagoons. There was high efficiency for removing phosphorus in these samples, however, with results below those found in synthetic samples in the same condition, pointing out possible interference of substances in the effluent matrix in the adsorption process.

Sabe-se que materiais compostos laminados são, hoje em dia, geralmente usados nas indústrias aeronáutica, aeroespacial, naval e outras, principalmente por causa de suas atrativas propriedades se comparadas aos materiais isotrópicos, como alta rigidez/peso, alta resistência, alto amortecimento e boas propriedades relacionadas ao isolamento térmico e acústico, entre outras. Porém, o comportamento de estruturas feitas de materiais compostos pode ser aperfeiçoado através da utilização de materiais inteligentes. Dentre os diferentes tipos comercialmente disponíveis de materiais inteligentes, os materiais piezelétricos são amplamente usados como sensores e atuadores para o monitoramento e controle de estruturas. O efeito piezelétrico direto define que uma deformação mecânica aplicada ao material é convertida em uma carga elétrica. Por outro lado, o efeito piezelétrico inverso define que um potencial elétrico aplicado ao material é convertido em deformação mecânica. Estes efeitos governam a interação eletromecânica nos materiais piezelétricos. O Método dos Elementos Finitos, uma ferramenta amplamente reconhecida e poderosa para a análise de estruturas complexas, é capaz de realizar a integração dos componentes inteligentes e das partes estruturais clássicas. Sendo assim, o comportamento estático e dinâmico, linear e geometricamente não-linear, de estruturas compostas laminadas delgadas com lâminas piezelétricas incorporadas é analisado neste trabalho usando o Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF). Elementos triangulares, chamados GPL-T9, com três nós e seis graus de liberdade por nó (três componentes de deslocamento e três de rotação) e um grau de liberdade por camada piezelétrica (potencial elétrico) são usados. Para a análise estática não-linear as equações de equilíbrio são solucionadas usando o Método do Controle de Deslocamentos Generalizados (MCDG) enquanto a solução dinâmica é obtida usando o Método de Newmark com Formulação Lagrangeana Atualizada (FLA). O sistema de equações é resolvido usando o Método dos Gradientes Conjugados (MGC) e nos casos não-lineares um esquema iterativo-incremental é empregado. Diversos exemplos numéricos são apresentados e comparados com resultados obtidos por outros autores com diferentes tipos de elementos e diferentes formulações. A concordância entre estes resultados demonstra a validade e a eficácia dos modelos desenvolvidos. / It is well known that laminate composite materials are nowadays commonly used in the aeronautical, aerospace, naval and other industries mainly because their attractive properties as compared to isotropic materials, such as higher stiffness/weight, higher strength, higher damping and good properties related to thermal or acoustic isolation, among others. However, the behavior of structures made of composite materials can be improved using smart materials. Among several kinds of commercially available smart materials, the piezoelectric materials are widely used as sensors and actuators for the monitoring and control of structures. The direct piezoelectric effect states that a mechanical strain applied to the material is converted to an electric charge. On the other hand, the converse piezoelectric effect states that an electric potential applied to the material is converted to mechanical strain. These effects govern the electromechanical interaction in piezoelectric materials. The finite element method, a widely accepted and powerful tool for analyzing complex structures, is capable of dealing with the integration of smart components and classic structural parts. So, linear and geometrically nonlinear static and dynamic behavior of thin laminate composite structures embedded with piezoelectric layers are analyzed in this work using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Triangular elements, called GPL-T9, with three nodes and six degrees of freedom per node (three displacement and three rotation components) and one degree of freedom per piezoelectric layer (electrical potential) are used. For static analysis the nonlinear equilibrium equations are solved using the Generalized Displacement Control Method (GDCM) while the dynamic solution is performed using the classical Newmark Method with an Updated Lagrangean Formulation (ULF). The system of equations is solved using the Gradient Cojugate Method (GCM) and in nonlinear cases an iterative-incremental scheme is employed. Several numerical examples are presented and compared with results obtained by other authors with different kind of elements and different schemes. The agreement among these results demonstrates the validity and effectiveness of the developed models.

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